Connecting the dots between sustainability, smart buildings and strategy

In February, JLL’s Dan Probst attended the GreenBiz Forum, where Colin Dyer, JLL’s President and CEO, spoke about the importance of sustainability to the C-Suite. You can learn more about why sustainability matters to the CEO here and here. Below, Dan brings the discussion full-circle, by highlighting the ways in which smart building technology can help your business to bridge this divide between sustainability and strategy.

It’s a common misconception that energy efficiency begets sustainability. In reality, sustainability is about much more than energy: it’s about serving the interests of your organization’s key stakeholders, including your employees, clients, and shareholders.

It’s crucial to consider the bigger picture, especially when determining how sustainability fits within your corporate strategy. The good news? Smart building technology has never been more affordable or accessible – and incorporating smart technology into your building operations can help you take your sustainability program to the next level by helping you to meet your stakeholders’ increasing expectations for a more efficient, interactive and innovative workplace.

So, what do you need to consider when thinking about how smart building technology can help you to achieve your sustainability objectives and, by extension, drive your business strategy?

Smart technology can help you to serve the interests of your employees… by attracting and retaining top talent. As the workforce continues to demand more interactive and innovative workplaces, integrating smart building technology can help you to bolster well-being and diversity in your workplace. By improving the experiences that your employees have each day in your workplace, thereby helping your organization to become an employer of choice, you’re able to reward and grow the talent that keeps your business running with a healthy, happy, and productive work environment.

Smart technology can help you to serve the interests of your clients… by highlighting common sustainability goals. By investing in smart building technology, your organization underscores the importance of sustainability to your overarching business strategy – and this gesture can speak volumes to clients who have similar sustainability agendas.

Smart technology can help you to serve the interests of your shareholders… by showing your firm’s commitment to and investment in sustainability. Shareholders are increasingly looking for companies that have clearly defined their sustainability objectives and have documented successes – and adopting smart building technology is proof of your commitment. Furthermore, smart building systems gather massive amounts of real-time data, giving you the tools that you need to benchmark your performance and document your successes.

The bottom line? Adopting smart building technology can help you to elevate your sustainability program – and your business strategy – by delivering positive outcomes for your employees, clients and shareholders.

Interested in learning more about the benefits that smart buildings can bring to your business? Contact Dan Probst or Darlene Pope.

Dan Probst is Global Chairman of Energy and Sustainability Services at JLL. In this role, Dan is responsible for developing and delivering products and services that help clients reduce energy costs and their real estate related environmental footprint through innovative portfolio and occupancy strategies, workplace standards, and operating practices. Dan is also a founding and current member of JLL’s Global Environmental Sustainability Board. For Dan’s full bio, pleaseclick here.